Rogers Howard
2 years ago
I totally agree with the other nine Google reviews I currently see, that are all 5.0. Each of the bullet points Google asks about, namely Professional, Good Quality, Good Value, Responsive, and Punctuality, merits a 5.0. At 2 pm I discovered my water heater was leaking water onto the floor and delivering cold water. Despite the cold weather that had other recommended plumbers stating they were booked until about five days later, Peter immediately answered (around 2:30 pm), mentioned that likely I would need to pay an emergency fee or wait a few days, but when I said I could just take cold showers for a few days and wouldn't need to treat it as an emergency, he decided that without any emergency fee, he could immediately get his helper and a 50 gallon tank together and show up in Newton, from Arlington even though that is somewhat beyond his usual range. He was here by 4 pm, his helper arived a few minutes later and the job was fully done by 7:30 pm.
Everything about Peter's visit was thoroughly both courteous and professional, and timely as well, and his use of a fancy $2500 crimping tool demonstrated his commitment to modern technology despite his complete knowledge of older-house techniques like using molten lead on cast-iron drainpipes, or silver-soldering, or the proper ways to add new fittings to old steel gas lines, or to old copper tubing, as well as to install all devices called for by code such as a CO alarm (his one had smoke alarm as well, and is a talking model). And testing all connections, using soap films, matches to test proper draft, etc. Everything about his job demonstrated his mastery of how to do things right.
He was unfailingly polite, expertly informed about hot water heaters of course, and diagnosed that the proper size would be 50 gallons rather than the 40 gallons that often led to running out of hot water for me. He asked me to send photos and based on that he immediately stated the price and said he could be right over.
His price was properly in line with my 2012 bill (the prior 10 year heater didn't quite make it a full 10 years), but also included several major improvements he did compared to the prior job in 2012. He improved the exhaust venting to be a full 4 inches, using all new exhaust tubing and new cementing, done properly rather than the prior plumber who joined a 3 inch outlet to an existing 4 inch pipe, he added a very useful gas shutoff valve instead of keeping the prior 116 year old one in place, he was very informative about how to light the pilot and set the temperature. Even his helper was articulate and friendly. The resulting connections look very artistic and professional, and everything was fully cleaned up.
In short, I highly recommend Peter for any plumbing job.